LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Republicans will hold on to a crucial seat as the commonwealth's top prosecutor.
On Tuesday, voters chose Russell Coleman to serve as the state's next attorney general. Coleman beat out Democrat challenger Pamela Stevenson with a nearly 15-point victory.
Coleman's first message to Kentuckians was simple: he will use his office to keep Kentuckians safe.
"I look forward to working with anyone regardless of party, who will stand with our law enforcement, who will protect our families, and who will help me put drug traffickers and and violent criminals behind bars where they belong," Coleman said.
Coleman, who has roughly 20 years of legal experience, previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky following his appointment by former President Donald Trump in 2017.
In his new role as attorney general, Coleman said he plans to focus on tackling violent crime across the state and fentanyl drug trafficking.
Coleman said he is proud to follow in the footsteps of Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who lost his campaign for governor against incumbent Gov. Andy Beshear.
"There are enormous shoes to fill in following the footsteps of our 51st attorney general," he said. "Our soon to be treasurer, Mr. Metcalf, likes to say 'sometimes shoes are just so enormous, they can't be filled, but you seek to walk in them. To follow behind them. To seek the counsel of those that came before you,' and I can certainly say that about our 51st Attorney General Daniel Cameron."
'It means a lot to us to see her.'
Coleman also thanked his political opponent, Stevenson, for her service and the crowd gave a round of applause.
"We may come from different parties, and bring different philosophies, but I appreciate her service to our Commonwealth, and I appreciate her service to this nation," he said.
Although Stevenson didn't pull out a win Tuesday night, the retired Air Force Colonel and attorney, said she "carried those truths with me every single day on the campaign trail, crisscrossing this beautiful place I am so proud to call home."
In her loss, Stevenson's supporters said they still believe in her and the campaign she ran, one where she had the chance to be elected as the first Black woman to serve as attorney general in Kentucky.
Two women from West Louisville, where Stevenson is from, said they saw her as "the answer for our ancestors."
"These steps that she is walking in," they said. "[Is] so good for little Black and Brown girls, for myself tonight as an elder. It means a lot to us to see her. To see her run her integrity for this seat."
The women said it wasn't just Stevenson's success as a Black woman, but clear-cut qualifications that made her a good candidate.
"This fight doesn't end tonight, we will continue to keep the faith, we will continue to do the work and we will continue to love our fellow Kentuckians," Stevenson said in a statement to WHAS11 News.
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